The Portland daily press., 1887-11-17
FISHERMEN COMBINING.
First Meeting of the National Asso-
citation In New York.
Resolutions Adopted Declaring That
No Foreign Privileges are Desired.
Protection nDemanded Against the
Product of Subsidized Fisheries.

New YORK. Nov. 16.-The National Fish
ery Association met in this city today, its
first annual meeting. Representatives from
all over the country were present. The OBJ
iect of the gathering is to adopt means for
proper representation of the fishery interests
of the United States in all matters pertain
tanning to national and State legislation.
Among those present were President Bab-
son of Gloucester, Mass, Luther Maddocks
of Boothbay, Me-, r. G. Green of Eastport,
Me-, and N. b. College of Lamoine, Me.
President Babson called the meeting to
order and delivered an address upon the
wrongs suffered by American fishermen. He
claimed the fishermen Of the United States
had no protection while in foreign coun-
tries. He was opposed to the action taken on
the fishery question by the government.
Commercial intercourse was farce. Amer
lean fishermen, he said, did not want the
inshore fisheries of Canada. All they de-
sired was the right to buy bait and not to be
imposed upon. Foseign fishermen were given
rights in this country which our fishermen
were not given in foreign countries. Amer
ican markets are open to all fishermen OF the
world, and all the speaker asked was to
have American rights looked after properly.
When Canada has our markets open her
fishing fleet rapidly increases, while ours
decreases. Reciprocity is not an axiom of
the American system Of government and
reciprocity treaties would impair our COM
merce.
Mr.. Babson declared 1t was the object of
the Tory government to give Canadian fish
ermen free markets in the United States and
drive the Americans entirely out of the
iprocity in that. The speaker asserted
that the capital invested in the business in
Massachusetts, alone was $14,000,00O, and
this yields an annual income OF over $780,
600. He was not in favor OF the abolition OF
the net and trap system because II 1t were
done away with large industry would be
destroyed. He thought that If any legisla-
tion was enacted it should be for the protec-
tion of American fishermen. Canada should
be let severely alone.
agent of the association, stated that the fish
ermen were thoroughly organized all along
the Atlantic coast. On the lakes, where all
the dealers had joined the association. the
trade was in the hands Of nine companies.
The Canadians, he said, come to our mar
kets for bait, while the American fishermen
are refused entrance for bait in Canadian
waters. The Canadians are running the
trade. They enjoy the privileges OF our
markets but pay none of our taxes. The
Canadian government seems to consider that
we are incapable of managing our own in
dustries. Men who fish Tor fun are trying to
legislate the industry out of existence.
Secretary Wilcox reported that there were
221 firms in the association and that move
ment was on foot to send fleet OF Atlantlc
fishermen to the Pacific slope. where the
trade has not been developed.
Hon. Daniel I. Church of Rhode Island
made speech in which he said the men,
haden business was almost ruined
Treasurer Pew of Gloucester. Mass,
spoke against commercial union with Can
ada on the ground that it would destroy the
fishing industry.
The following officers were elected:
President-F J. Babson, Gloucester, Mass.
First Vice President-D. t. Church, Tlyerton,
Second Vice President-J. T. MacIntyre.
Secretary-Luther Maddox, B0othbay, Me.
The following resolutions were unani-
mously adopted:
Whereas the fishing industries of the United
States are largely the foundation of the marine
power of the government, upon which 1t must de-
pend for defense upon the ocean in time OF war;
and
Whereas, as producing interest it is entitled
to equal protection with other producing indus
tries of the country; therefore
Resolved that the association respectfully ask
the national government for such action ana leg
,satlon az sa paee ya ne aeap 70 be made
matter Of bargain or sale to foreign nations, put
reserved to the people of the United States in the
same manner as that which characterlzes the
laws of the cOastlug trade;
Resolved, that as the history of the past has
demonstrated lndt tUe uSn pfOuuCt ucpcnus
reetly upon natural causes for its supply, ana
domestic competition has always been sutncient
to prevent enhanced prices, and also. that nit
ting confidence alone is needed to increase the
fishing fleets of the nation so that the supply of
fish shall be fully equal to the demand and our
national marine power increased thereby, we ask
that our industry be so protected by duties on
foreign fish as will give to American fishermen
our markets i'm c0ntradstinction TO the suDsi-
died, bounty-fed, untaxed fisheries of foreign
nations;
Resolved, that we ask no privileges of fishing
in foreign waters but demand the same CONNER
cial rights for vessels in foreign ports as for
eign vessels have in the ports of the United
States.
A proposition was made to raise money to
aid in opposing hostile legislation by assess
ing every man shipped on a fishing vessel
81. This was strongly opposed and failed:
A resolution to change the headquarters OF
the association from Gloucester to this city
was adopted. The question of resisting all
legislation opposed to free fishing was
brought up and elected the fact that the
menhaden fishermen are about to send
delegation to President Cleveland to urge
him to insert in his message request that
Congress pass an act preserving their fisher
les on the New Jersey coast for menhaden
only
President Babson was delegated to ask
President Cleveland not to make such re-
quest. A fund was started for the support OF